7 Scariest Halloween Movies

Scary films have terrorized moviegoers through the decades with their disturbing plots, creepy sounds, and believable visual effects. Here are Treetopia’s picks for the most frightening films of each decade.

1950s: The Tingler (1959)

This camp cult classic tells the story of a pathologist who discovers that spine-tingling is caused by a spinal-cord parasite who lives on human fear. As a person becomes more afraid, the centipede-like organism dubbed as “the tingler” grows stronger and kills its host by crushing his or her spine.

The Tingler became famous when it was originally released in US cinemas with a gimmick that involved vibrating devices on theater chairs that activated at the very moment the film depicted the creature escaping into a movie theater. Consider recreating this spine-tingling effect if you want to give someone some extra fright!

1960s: Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

Based on the1967 best-selling horror novel by Ira Levin, Rosemary’s Baby is a terrifying tale of devil worship. In this realistic supernatural drama, Rosemary suspects she’s carrying the spawn of Satan, and that her husband has made a deal with their neighbors in exchange for help in advancing his acting career. The mounting sense of paranoia climaxes in a disturbing revelation.

With a completely believable setting and performances, this horror thriller will lure you into the plot and keep you terrified by the unfolding events as you “Pray for Rosemary’s Baby.”

1970s: The Exorcist (1973)

Scary as hell, The Exorcist deals with desperate attempts to win back a demon-possessed adolescent girl. It was based on William Peter Blatty’s 1971 novel, which in turn found inspiration from a newspaper article about a real-life exorcism.

Vile and brutalizing, the movie features infamous effects such as projectile vomiting, levitating, and head swiveling. It keeps the viewers terrified from start to finish with every shot shrouded in mystery and suspense, and the plot climaxing in a terrifying final scene.

1980s: The Fly (1986)

Based loosely on George Langelaan’s 1957 short story of the same title, The Fly is a frightful film about a mad scientist metamorphosed into a human-sized fly as a result of teleportation experiments, as well as a tragic love story of doomed partners.

The film terrorizes and disarms with its well-thought-out plot, superb acting, and gory special effects, and drains the viewers in the end with a heart-breaking final scene.

1990s: Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Loosely based on Washington Irving’s 1820 short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” the film is a spooky gothic horror tale about a series of bizarre murders in the village of Sleepy Hollow. The movie brims over with thrills and romance as a police constable from New York City investigates the decapitation of three people by a mysterious Headless Horseman, while falling in love with a local girl.

Tim Burton’s visual sensibilities, such as the ominous woods and the shadowy town with pale inhabitants, give the film texture and bring the scary elements to life.

2000s: The Descent (2005)

Great to watch with friends, The Descent follows six women in a spelunking adventure that leads them trapped in an uncharted Appalachian cave system. It builds the horror slowly and delivers high on the scare as the girls are hunted by troglofaunal flesh-eating humanoids in a claustrophobic atmosphere.

The film extends the thrills and unspeakable terrors in The Descent: Part 2.

Present: The Conjuring (2013)

The Conjuring is a ghost tale inspired by the real life story of American paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who were called to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in a secluded New England farmhouse in 1971.

The Warrens discover that the house once belonged to an accused witch, who committed suicide in 1863 after cursing all who would take her land.The characters find themselves caught in the most horrifying moments of their lives as they attempt to exorcise a powerful demonic entity.

This Halloween, dare to get shocked and prodded like never before with frightful movies that promise to crawl under your skin and stay there!

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